The Department of the Environment’s ‘Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland’ – Planning for Sustainable Development (SPPS), has been published in final form following a period of extensive engagement with key planning stakeholders.

This publication sets out the Department’s regional planning policies for securing the orderly and consistent development of land in Northern Ireland under the reformed two-tier planning system. The provisions of the SPPS must be taken into account in the preparation of Local Development Plans, and are also material to all decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.

“Publishing the SPPS unlocks development potential, supports job creation and will aid economic recovery but not at the expense of our planet, environment and people. It consolidates over 800 pages of existing policy in to a single document and brings clarity and certainty to important planning matters throughout the North.”

“The SPPS will enable councils to be flexible in bringing forward planning policy tailored to local circumstances through their new Local Development Plans.”

Mark H Durkan, Minister for the Environment

To Download the Strategic Planning Policy Statement in full click HERE

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